Crowd Powered Media and the 2010 Olympics

Vancouver's Nowpublic and self-described gonzo journalist, Robert Scales (head of Raincity Studios) are both in the Tyee today. They're discussing citizen journalism, crowd powered news and the inevitable mixture of social media tools and the Olymics.

There's no doubt come 2010, Vancouver will be a media circus. On top of the 10,000 accredited media anticipated by VANOC, a further 3,000 "unaccredited" passes will be issued by the British Columbia International Media Centre. Scales was accepted into this second group, and plans to show up at Robson Square Plaza each day for official briefings and meetings with other reporters -- though he'll be barred from all Olympic venues. As thrilled as he was to receive access, he's concerned that untold legions of bloggers, citizen journalists and tech-savvy spectators won't benefit from the same resources.

Other than the usual arguments made for and against the use of citizen journalists to cover 2010, the article also talks about Scales' efforts to get a social media hub called The True North Media House established. As well, Michael Geist weighs in about boosting ad revenues.

Networks need viewers to sell advertising, so the more people engaged with the Olympics, the more potential revenue..so they ought to recognize that there's great opportunities to increase interest in their broadcasts.

I don't recall many people discussing using ad-hoc video recordings to make money, especially when you're uploading it for free to a site that doesn't have online advertising...interesting read.

NowPublic is a participatory news network which mobilizes an army of reporters to cover the events that define our world. In twelve short months, the company has become one of the fastest growing news organizations with thousands of reporters in over 140 countries. During Hurricane Katrina, NowPublic had more reporters in the affected area than most news organizations have on their entire...
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Victoria Revay

Like many, freelance journalist, Victoria Revay is ambitious and adventurous by nature. Since leaving television news, Victoria has worked for Nowpublic.com, she has been published in Western Living Magazine, Blackbook Magazine’s Jet Set Travel Guide, Western Living Condo and Travelmuse.com, and she’s hosted an online entertainment show. She recently returned from her travels, blogging across...
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